Fiat 128: The Small Family Car That Set the Front-Drive Blueprint

The Fiat 128 was a compact family car that Fiat built from 1969 to 1985 in several body styles. Its transverse engine and front-wheel drive layout became a template that most carmakers later copied, and more than three million cars left the production line. It also took the 1970 European Car of the Year title and spawned a coupe, a rally trim and the mid-engined X1/9.

When did the Fiat 128 go on sale?

The 128 was launched in 1969 and remained in production until 1985. Fiat built a sedan at launch, added a three-door estate at the 1970 Turin Motor Show, and later introduced a coupe and a hatchback coupe. In 1979 every model except the base 1,100 cc car was dropped, and production finally ended in 1985.

The 1972 update refreshed the grille, bumpers, dashboard and steering wheel, and added a brake servo. In 1974 the 128 Special arrived with rectangular headlights and a 1,290 cc engine producing 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp). The 1976 facelift gave every car a new front with rectangular headlights and a new dashboard, and the estate was renamed Panorama at the same time.

A compact front-drive package that became the industry standard, built in three bodystyles and copied by carmakers across the world.

Why was the 128 layout so influential?

The 128 used a transversely mounted engine with the gearbox alongside it, driving the front wheels through unequal-length driveshafts. Fiat tested the arrangement for five years on the Autobianchi Primula before committing to it, which let engineers fix uneven power delivery, torque steer and uneven tyre wear. Competitors soon adopted the same compact package across the industry.

Front-wheel drive was not new, since BMC had introduced it on the Mini in 1959 and on the larger 1100 and 1300 series in 1962. Fiat set out in the mid-1960s to compete with that larger range. In the BMC design the engine and transmission shared one oil sump, whereas the 128 kept its engine and gearbox side by side without sharing oil.

A compact clutch release mechanism, designed by Ettore Cordiano, completed the package. An electrically controlled cooling fan drew in fresh air, and the layout later became the default way of building a small front-drive car. The same drivetrain could also be reworked into a mid-engined sports car, which is how the X1/9 was born.

How did the 128 engine and running gear work?

The 128 used a 1.1-litre SOHC engine with an iron block and aluminium head, driven by a belt-operated single overhead camshaft. Aurelio Lampredi designed the engine, while Dante Giacosa led the wider car's engineering. Together they produced a compact, transversely mounted unit that drove the front wheels through unequal-length driveshafts.

The chassis paired rack-and-pinion steering with a strut-type front end, an integral anti-roll bar and independent rear suspension using a transverse leaf spring. Front disc brakes and Pirelli 145R13 Cinturato or Michelin ZX radial tyres completed the running gear. Visually, the car echoed Fiat's 124 and 125 designs.

Fiat's advertising claimed that the mechanical features used only 20% of the vehicle's volume. That claim helped explain why the car felt so roomy inside for its size, with generous passenger and cargo space.

What were the 128's launch specifications?

At launch the 128 had a 1,116 cc engine producing 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp), or 49 hp in the USA. A British magazine test recorded a top speed of 85.4 mph (137.4 km/h) and 0-60 mph in 15.5 seconds. Fuel use was 27.5 mpg imperial (10.3 L/100 km; 22.9 mpg-US), and the recommended price was GBP 876.

The 1,290 cc Special engine that arrived in 1974 raised output to 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) for the Special model.

How did UK testers rate the 128?

Testers praised the car's interior space and its performance. Wind and road noise were low, although engine noise was not. The 128 was fractionally behind the Morris 1300 on top speed but ahead on acceleration, and it was priced at GBP 876 against the Morris at GBP 830.

The Motor magazine test was published in April 1970, shortly after the car's UK launch. British Leyland's 1100 and 1300 range was the class leader at the time, so the 128 was entering a competitive market.

How was the 128 styled?

The 128 was styled similarly to Fiat's 124 and 125 and was refreshed several times in its life. The 1972 update changed the grille, bumpers and dashboard, and the 1974 Special added rectangular headlights. The 1976 facelift brought a new front and a new dashboard for every version.

The estate arrived at the 1970 Turin Motor Show as the Familiare, a three-door wagon. In 1976 it was renamed Panorama, and the Panorama was dropped in 1980.

What variants of the 128 were built?

The 128 Rally, Coupe and 3P Berlinetta were the main variants. The Rally was a sporty 1.3-litre saloon shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1971 and produced until 1974. The coupe arrived at the Turin Motor Show in November 1971, and the three-door 3P Berlinetta followed in June 1975 and ran until 1980.

The Rally's engine was bored out to 1,290 cc and fitted with a twin-choke Weber 32 DMTR carburettor and an 8.9:1 compression ratio. It produced 67 DIN hp (49 kW; 66 hp) at 6,200 rpm and 88 Nm (65 lb ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm. The South African Rally was based on the four-door saloon and ran until 1978.

The 128 Coupe, also called the Sport, had a wheelbase of 2,223 mm (87.5 in), 23 cm shorter than the saloon's. It came in S and SL trims with 1100 and 1300 engines. The 1100 made 64 PS DIN (47 kW; 63 hp) at 6,000 rpm, while the 1300 made 75 PS DIN (55 kW; 74 hp) at 6,600 rpm. Production ran until 1975.

The 3P Berlinetta is a hatchback coupe whose name stands for Tre Porte, Italian for three doors. Paolo Boano styled it on the saloon's design back to the B-pillar. Emissions rules from October 1975 changed its engines, so the 1100 gave 65 PS DIN (48 kW; 64 hp) and the 1300 gave 73 PS DIN (54 kW; 72 hp).

Fiat 128 specifications at a glance

The table below collects the headline figures for the launch saloon and the main variants. Where a figure belongs to one version, the table names that version so the Rally, Coupe and 3P values stay separate from the standard car.

How many Fiat 128s were built?

Fiat built 2,776,000 sedans and wagons in Italy, plus 330,800 coupes and 3Ps, figures that add up to more than three million cars. The 128 was built at a new plant at Rivalta di Torino, north-west of Turin, which Fiat constructed specifically for the model. Those figures are for Italian production only.

Outside Italy the car was built under licence in a wide range of countries. Volkswagen took one apart in 1970 and treated it as a reference for its forthcoming Golf, a sign of how closely rival engineers studied the car.

Where was the 128 built under licence?

Licensed production spread across several countries. Sevel Argentina built the car from 1971 to 1990, Colombia's maker assembled saloons from 1973 to 1980, and FSO in Poland put together 58,541 Zastava 1100p cars from 1973 to 1982. SEAT in Spain built 31,893 of the 3P between 1976 and 1980.

Egypt's Nasr company built the car from CKD kits supplied by Zastava until 2009, and Sri Lanka's Upali Motor Company built it until 1978. In South Africa a pickup derived from the estate was produced with a 500 kg (1,100 lb) payload and a 52 L (13.7 US gal) fuel tank.

In Yugoslavia, Zastava built the 128-based saloon and the Zastava 101 hatchbacks, which came in three- and five-door forms. The Zastava Poly pickup carried on in small numbers, with 156 cars made in its final year.

Did the 128 spawn other models?

Yes. Fiat reworked the 128 drivetrain into the mid-engined X1/9 sports car, which Fiat built from 1972 to 1982 before Bertone took over production until 1989. The ESV 2000, an experimental safety vehicle, followed in 1972, and Moretti built small numbers of 128 coupes and cabriolets.

The X1/9 moved the transverse drivetrain from the front of the 128 to the rear of the cabin, directly in front of the rear axle. It was designed around the 128's SOHC engine and transmission, and its handling was noted for its balance. Bertone's design gave the two-seater a distinct character.

The ESV 2000 had a totally new five-door hatchback body with an extra strong passenger cell. It used the mechanicals of the standard car with the 1,290 cc engine, and it weighed 360 kg (794 lb) more than the original 128.

Moretti, based in Turin, built its 128 coupes and cabriolets semi-handmade at the via Monginevro plant. Fewer than a hundred were made, and they cost about 1,500,000 lire in 1969. Later in the decade, Sears built an electric experiment on a 128 Coupe to mark the tenth anniversary of its DieHard battery brand.

Why is the 128 still remembered?

The 128 is remembered as the car that proved front-wheel drive could be packaged well. The car earned the 1970 European Car of the Year award, and more than three million were built. Journalist Jamie Kitman called it a pioneer of the small cars people drive today, a verdict made in 2012.

Fiat's advertising also claimed that Enzo Ferrari drove a 128 as his personal vehicle. The car's own marketing leaned on its roomy interior and its mechanical packaging, the two strengths that made it stand out in its class.

Frequently asked questions

Was the Fiat 128 European Car of the Year?

Yes. The 128 was named European Car of the Year in 1970, and over three million were manufactured across its production life.

What was the Fiat 128 Rally?

The Rally was a sporty 1.3-litre saloon with a 1,290 cc engine producing 67 DIN hp (49 kW; 66 hp). It was first shown at Geneva in March 1971, and a South African version based on the four-door saloon ran until 1978.

Did the 128 go on sale in Britain?

Yes. A British magazine test in April 1970 followed the UK launch, and the car reached 85.4 mph (137.4 km/h). The car was priced at GBP 876, a little above the Morris 1300 at GBP 830.

How many of the 128 were built in Italy?

Fiat built 2,776,000 sedans and wagons and 330,800 coupes and 3Ps in Italy. The new plant at Rivalta di Torino was built specifically for the model, north-west of Turin.